Variable-speed driving mechanism.



M; E. VAUGHN. VARIABLE' SPEED DRIVING MEGHANISM.

APPLIGATIONILED FEB. 8, 1900.

900,450. I i Patented oct. 6, 1908.

al inciso 4 Be it known that I, MARION E.

.PATENT OFFICE..

t' rMARioN VAUGHN, or rLAiNFIELD, iNDIANA.

5' `j vaRrABLEsPEED DRIVING ,MEoHANIsM To all whom it, concern: i

of Plainfield, county of Hendricks; and State of Indiana, have invented a certain` new and', y useful VariablefS eed lDrivin 'Mechanisnuv and I do hereby eclare that t e following'is a full, clean.; and` exact/.V description thereof,"

I llfelfence being" had "to the accompanying Whihflik? numerals, flefelf tof drawinl,`in like aiss. w

late and change-(thais eed. j., y The ch'ef feature "0 the,invention consists of means for causing avariatin in the/extent of-frictional engagement,betweenfthedriving wheel and the {driven `wheel when thelatter is moved across the face or side of the driving wheel, the arrangement being such that the extentof frictionalenga ement of the driven wheel with the drivin vsigheel' increases asthe driven wheel is shifte to a position bringing about 'an increase of speed. -In other words the greater the speed-.and `need of .frictional engagement thegreater' willbe the extent of such frictionall engagement and the greatest extent offfrictionalengagementexistswhen the wheels are coaxial-and then the hi liest s -eed will be attained. To that en the riven wheel is mounted in ashaft or frame v that'oscillates in the arc of-a circle with refer.

ence to which the side of the `driving wheel is tangential and means are ing the position arc of a circle. f l

provided `for shift- 1 The full nature `of this invention'v be more fully understood from-the 'accompany- In Figure 1 thereis `shown a sideelevation of the speed transmitting l rand" changingYV l mechanismof an automobile, parts being lng shown by dottedelines. Fig. 21s a plan view of the power transmitting means, parts broken awa Figs. 3 and 4 show the friction wheels aving shaftsonwhich they are mounted, in different ositi'ons. Fig.. 5 is acentral transverse section through the driven Wheel. y Fig. 6 isa section on theline 6 6 of v n. the drawings there `is shown by dotted Specification ofLetjters Patent. `Application filed, February 8, 1906i.l Serial No. 300,103.

VAUGHN,

of thev drivenv Wheel the Y .drawmgs and the following description` Patented Oct. 6, 1908.

and of the front and rear wheels. Agine of theautomobile is not shown but 10 is 'as'haft driven by the engine and 11 is the drivin wheel that is in frictional engagement .Witht edriven wheel 12 mounted on the driven shaft 13 whichl transmits power 'throughvthe gears 14 and 15 to the rear axle 1,6 y of the automobile on vwhich thev rear l f y' y' wheels are secured. T eobjectofthis invention is Vto provide a speedchanging means 'in combination with a i v friction driving mechanism that is simple in"V construction and is easy` tofoperate and `regu:`

. side of the shaft 13, are connected at their` -rear ends to lthe tubes 17 rigidly andat their forward cnds to abearing frame 2() in which vthe forward.,end of the driven shaft 13A is mounted. Thus the,v construction is ar-a ranged, the frameconsisting of the parts 17, 18, 19- an'd20,` togetherl with the driven wheel 12 and shaft 13, is at the forward end vertically movable or oscillatory as shown by the fulland dotted lines in Fig. 1. Said arts are'oscillated by the hand-lever 22 whlch is secured on a shaft `23, and that shaft carries crank 122 connected by the link 24 with an arm 25 extending upwardly from the bearing frame 20. A When said hand-lever 22 is drawn rearward, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the drivenwheel k12 willbe elevated, and when said lever `is thrownforward it will depress lthe friction Wheel 12, asappears by the dotted lines in' Fig. 1. l

Changeof speed is caused by changing the *position ofthe driven wheel 12 with'refer- .enceto the driving wheel 1,1. When they are,- as shown by full lines in Figs. 1 and v2, coaxial, the highest speed will be attained. When the driven wheel 12 is depressed somewhat, only theupper part of its forward side surface will be in frictlonal engagement with the side surface of the drivin wheel, las the upper contacting part of the (glriven wheel is moved more closely to the center of the drivin@r wheel the speed will be correspondingly irninished. When the driven wheel reaches the position shown in Fig. 3 so that it contacts only with the center of the driving wheel there will be `practically no speed.'l

`lines the outline of the bed of an'automobile I The en-` the axle 16 driven in'an o posite direction from the direction when t e parts are as shown in Fig. 1. Such reversing position is shown in Fig. 1 by dotted .lines and the extreme reversing position is shown in Fi 4.

T o increase the frictionbetween whee s"12 andv 13 I preferably fori-n it' as shown in Fig.v 5

' with a rubber ring 27 secured to the sideof the driven wheel that is next to the driving wheel. The only' part of the driven whee that en ages the driving wheel is this rubber ring. ne effect of this construction is that y while running at full speed when all power generated by the engine is being transmitted to the driven wheel 12 the entire annular face of the rubber ring 27 is in frictiona'l engage-v ment with the driving wheel sothat there will be no slippage. The extent of the ring 27 that is inengagement with the driven i driven wheel is mounted at the end of Yan oscillatory frame fulcrumed some distance from the driving wheel and is moved in the arc of a circle whereas the driving wheel 1s fixed and its side istan ential to said arc. I also addme'ans to enab e the chauffeur to i11- .crease or diminish the forcibleness of the engagement between the two wheels 1 1 and 12.

hls consists of a lever 30 fulcrumed at 31 on the yoke 18 and at its inner end engaging the inner end of the shaft 13. The outer end of the lever 30 has a connecting rod 32 passing loosely through it and on said rod 32 there is a spring 33 between the lever 30 and the collar 34. Said rod 32 is forced rearward by. a foot-lever 35 fulcrumed at the vehicle bed36 and having on its u per end a pedal 37. The spring 33 norma y holds the wheel 12 against the wheel 11 but by pressing on the pedal 37 the forcibleness of the frictional engagement between the wheels 11 and 12 may be increfased. This is helpful when the load is heavy or there is any tendency of the wheel 12 to slip on the drive wheel 11. This action of the shaft 13 is rendered possible by splining the gear 14 on the shaft as shown by Fig. 6.

What I claim as m invention and desire to secure by Letters atent/I? 1 In a speed changing mechanism, driving and driven wheels with their sides in frictional engagement, and means for shifting the position of one wheel in the arc of a circle to which the engaging surface of the other wheel is tangential.

2. In a speed changing mechanism, driving and driven wheels with their sides in frictional engagement, one of said wheels be er wheel, and means for shifting the posi- This ingl mounted yieldingly with relation to theot tion of one wheelin the arc of a circle to which the kengaging surface 'of the other wheel is tangentia 'v 3. In a speed changing mechanism, a driving of said riven wheel.

4. In a speed changing' mechanism, a driving wheel, a drivenw ee with ayielding contact surface on its side in frictional engagement with the side of the driving wheel, one of said wheels being mounted yieldingly in relation to the other wheel means for mounting the f driven wheelso that when coaxial with the driving wheel its entire engagin surface will be in contact with the driving w eel and the extent of such engaging surface of the driven wheel will diminish proportionately as it is shifted away from .such coaxial position.

5. In a speed chan in mechanism, a driving wheel, `a driven whee with its side in frictional engagement with the side of the driving wheel, a shaft on which said driving wheel is mounted that is substantially coaxial with the drivin wheel, means for mountin said shaft so t at the end carrying the riven wheel may be oscillated, and means for oscillatingIsuch end of the driven shaft.

6. n a speed chan in mechanism, a driving wheel, a driven weeI with its side in frictional en agement with the side of the driving whee ashaft carrying the driven wheel that is coaxial with the driving wheel, a frame in which said shaft is mounted that is fulcrumed at a point remote from said driving wheel so that the end thereof carring thev driven wheel is free to oscillate, an for oscillating said end of the shaft.

7'. In a speed chan in mechanism, a driving wheel, a driven wIieeI with its side in frictional en agement with the side of the driving whee ,'a driven shaft carrying said driven wheel that is substantially coaxial with the driving wheel, means through which power is transmitted from said driven shaft, a frame fulcrumed on said means and carryin said driven shaft, the end of said frame and riven shaft near the driven wheel being free to oscillate, and means for oscillating s aid end of the frame.

8. In a speed changing mechanism, a vehicle axle, a frame fulcrumed thereon, a driven shaft mounted in said frame at a right angle to said axle, gears on said axle and shaft for transmitting power from the latter to 'the former, a driving wheel mounted coaxial with said shaft, a driven wheel on the oscillating end of saidshaft, and means for oscillating such end of the shaft.

9. In a speed changing mechanism, a drivmeans ing wheel, a driven wheelprovided with a yieldingl annular surface on its( side that frictionally engages the'side `of the driving` wheel, means for'shifting theposition ofsai driven wheel, andjmeansfor varying the exv tent of said annular'surfaee `thatisin frictional engagement. with said driving wheel.

10. Inv a'speed changing Lmechanism, a driving wheel, a drivenwheel with a yielding contact surface onits side in frictional engagement with theside of the` driving wheel,-

said driven wlieel being `so mounted thatthe extentof the engaging surfaces xsvariedc by shifting means for shifting the vposition. of ,thev` driven Wheel, means for mountingthedriven wheel that in such shifting of its` position varies the extent ofits engaging surface,\an`d means for varying:l the` forcefulness of said l so that in suchshifting of its` l ositionthe ex;` tent of .its engaging surface .wi libe varied,'and means .for increasing J the forcefulness; of thel ing shaft, a revoluble driven shaft friction Vdriving wheel and t `frictional engagement. i

11. In a speed driving wheel, a dri-venwheel with a yielding contaotfsurface Ion ,its side` in frictional'cn-v gagement withthe side of the drivingwheel, means for shifting the `position-of the driven wheel, means for,` mountinglthe"drivenwheel frictional engagement of the drivenwheel with the driving wheel.;

12. In a speedy chngingjm'echanism, `ak driving Wheel, a driven wheel` with` its side y in frictional engagement with theside fof the driving wheel, a shaft onfwhich said driven wheel ismounted` that is',` substantially C0'-M axial with `thel driving wheel, means` for mounting said shaft `softhat the end carrying f the driven'wheel'will"'oscillate, Imeans for oscillating such endv ofksaid drivenshaft,` and means that forces said,shaftlongitudinally. toward the driving wheel to increaseftheforcefulness of the engagement of `said wheels. 13. In a speed changing mechanism, Va driving Wheel, a driven wheel with its side in frictional engagement with they side of the driving wheel, a shaft carrying thedriven disks mountefd uponsaid shafts respectively and adapted to engage each other, and means for varymg the `degree of pressure between changing mechanism, a e

said friction disks, and also for the purpose of locking said disks together for direct drive. 1-5. In a change speed gear for motor 'driven vehicles, the combination with the motor shaft, of a disk vfixed theretofand havling'a rearwardly ,facing friction surface, a driving axle, a driving shaft geared to the axle and swinging about the same as an axis, and a disk carriedy by the drivin shaft and facing the motor shaft disk and eslgned for friotional engagement near its periphery withthe face ofthe motor shaft disk, and

shiftable by the swinging movement of the driving shaft towards and from the center of said `motor-shaft disk.

16. In a change speedu gear for motor driven vehicles, thecombination with the motorv shaft, of la disk :fixed theretoy and having a rearwardly facing friction surface, a

driving axle, a' driving shaft geared to the axle and swinging about the same as an axis,

a disk carried by the driving shaft and facing the motor shaftdisk and designed for frictionaljengagement nearits periphery with tliefriction surface of the motor shaft 4disk )and s'hiftable by the swinging movement of -the shaft towards andv from the center of said I motor-shaft disk -and a lever for. swingingl said driving shaft and locking it in adjusted positions. A r l y v y 17. 'A pair of lrotatable bodies so mounted on a 4eommvon plane that a side'of one body may engage a side of the other body, eac

b0dy bemg operative by reason .of such engagement to cause the other body to rotate Whether said bodies bein axial alinement or angularly arranged one with the other.

18. A4 pair of rotatable bodies so mounted onla common' plane that a side of one body may frictional y engage a side of the other body, each'body being operative by reason ofsuch frictional engagement to cause the other bodyto rotate whether said bodies be in axial alinement or angularly arranged one with the other. l

` 19. A'pair of rotatable bodies so mounted on a common plane that a side of one body mayengage a side ofthe other body, each [body being operative by reason of such engagement to cause the other body to rotate;

:one of said bodies being oscillatably movable transversely of its axis.

I 20. A pair of rotatable bodies so mounted 011 a common plane that a side of one body ma engage a side of the other body, each bot y being operative by reason of such engagement' to. cause the other body torotate;

one of said bodies being oscillatably movabletransversely of its axis; all in combination with means for moving one of said bodies oscillatably transversely of its axis.

21. A'pair of rotatable bodies so mounted on a common plane that a side of one bod may engage aside of the other body, eac

. ma engage a side of the other body, each bo y being operative by reason of suoli engagement to cause the other body to rotate whether said bodies be concentric with or eccentric to each other; one of said bodies being oscillatably movable transversely of its axis; all combined with means for moving oneof said-,bodies oscillatably transversely of its axis and means for locking the oscillatablyr movable body either in axial alinement or in Y angular adjustment with the other body.

23. A pair of rotatable bodies mounted on a common plane, each body having a surface which is engageable withv a surface of theother body at variable and radially unequal parts of said surfaces and each body being operative by reason of s uch engagement to cause the other body to rotate at variable speed; one of said bodies being oscillatably movable transversely of its axis.

24. vA pair of rotatable bodies mounted on -a common plane, each body havin a surface' that is engageable with asurface o the other body at variable and radially unequal parts of said surfaces and eachbodyl being operative by reason of such engagement to cause the other body to rotate at variable speed;

an ular adjustment-with the other bodfx` one of said bodies being oscillatably movable transversely of its axis; all combined with means for moving one of said bodies oscillatably transversely of its axis.

25. A pair of rotatable bodies mounted on a common plane each body having a surface which is engageable with a surface of the vother body at variable and radially unequalI parts of said surfaces and each body being operative by reason of such engagement to cause the other body to rotate at variable speed; one of said bodies being oscillatably movable transversely of its axis; all combiiied lwith means for movin one of said bodies oscillatably transverse? ofits axis, and means for locking the osci latably movable body either in axial alinement or in angular adJustment with the other body.

26.. A pair of rotatable bodies mounted on a common plane, each body having a surface which is engafreable with a surface of the other body anf each body being operative by reason of such engagement to cause the other body to rotate; one of said bodies being oscillatably movable transversely of its axis; all combined with means for moving vone of said bodies oscillatably transversely of its axis and means for locking the oscillatably movable body either in axial alinement or in n witness whereof, I have hereunto a ed my signature in the presence of the witnesses herein named.

MARION E. VAUGHN.

Witnesses:

G. G. CUMBERWORTH, A. M. HAvENs. 

